Swirl How
802m (2633ft)
The Southern Fells, The Lake District, Cumbria, England
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8ml (12km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,042ft (927m) |
| Time: | 5.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Fell Foot Bridge - Little Langdale - Hollin Crag - Wet Side Edge - Little Carrs - Great Carrs - Swirl How - Swirl Hawse - Keld Gill Head - Black Sails - Red Dell Head Moss - Wetherlam - Wetherlam Edge - Birk Fell - Greenburn Beck - Fell Foot Bridge
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.25ml (13km) |
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| Ascent: | 2,778ft (847m) |
| Time: | 5.75hrs |
| Grade: | (Moderate) |
Route Summary:
Coniston - Walna Scar Road - Goat's Water - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Swirl Band - Swirl How - Prison Band - Levers Water - Walna Scar Road - Coniston
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 8.75ml (14km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,584ft (1,092m) |
| Time: | 6.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Low Tilberthwaite - Above Beck Fells - Hole Rake - Red Gill Head Moss - Steel Edge - Lad Stones - Wetherlam - Red Dell Head Moss - Black Sails - Keld Gill Head - Swirl Hawse - Prison Band - Swirl How - Great Carrs - Little Carrs - Hell Gill Pike - Wet Side Edge - High End - Greenburn Beck - Low Tilberthwaite
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.5ml (15km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,523ft (1,074m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Walna Scar Road (nr Seathwaite (Duddon Valley) - Long Houses - Brown Pike - Dow Crag - Goat's Hawse - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Swirl Band - Swirl How - Great Carrs - Grey Friar - Seathwaite Tarn - Walna Scar Road.
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 9.75ml (15.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,664ft (1,117m) |
| Time: | 7.25hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Coniston - Church Beck - Levers Water Beck - Crowberry Haws - Low Water - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Swirl Band - Swirl How - Prison Band - Swirl Hawse - Keld Gill Head - Black Sails - Red Dell Head Moss - Wetherlam - Furness Fells - Coniston
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 10ml (16km) |
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| Ascent: | 3,584ft (1,092m) |
| Time: | 7 hrs |
| Grade: | (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Coniston - Church Beck - Levers Water Beck - Crowberry Haws - Low Water - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Swirl Band - Swirl How - Prison Band - Swirl Hawse - Keld Gill Head - Black Sails - Red Dell Head Moss - Wetherlam - Furness Fells - Coniston
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Vital Statistics:
| Length: | 12.75ml (20.5km) |
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| Ascent: | 4,191ft (1,277m) |
| Time: | 8.75hrs |
| Grade: |  (Hard) |
Route Summary:
Coniston - Walna Scar Road - Boo Tarn - Torver Beck - Cove Bridge - Goat's Water - Goat's Hawse - Dow Crag - Goat's Hawse - The Old Man of Coniston - Brim Fell - Levers Hawse - Grey Friar - Great Carrs - Swirl How - Prison Band - Keld Gill Head - Black Sails - Wetherlam - Swirl Hawse - Levers Water - Crowberry Haws - Walna Scar Road - Coniston
Fellow go4awalkers who have already walked, climbed, summited & bagged Swirl How
Richard Fulcher walked up on September 8th, 2025 [from/via/route] Parked near the Three Shires stone & set off up the path that joins up with the Wet Side Edge. We followed that path until it splits into two at the base of Great Carrs. We then headed off & up to Grey Friar. From there we turned around & headed up to Swirl How & back to Great Carrs. From there we descended back down Wet Side Edge & back to the car. [with] Jen [weather] Heavy rain at the start & then a sunny / cloudy day with blustery strong winds. - Great views all around, from Scafell, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, the Langdale Pikes through to the Hellvellyn range & the Old Man of Coniston.
Sarah Gunn climbed it on July 27th, 2025 [with] Martin Gunn
John Ramsbottom bagged it on September 22nd, 2024 [from/via/route] Dow Cragg, The Old Man of Coniston,Brim Fell,Swirl How, Great Carrs & Grey Friar [with] Lola [weather] Mainly warm & Sunny - Good day with & Lola, went to Wilson Inn Tover, for a quick pint
Clare Tait hiked it on August 14th, 2024 [from/via/route] Our no:102 Wainwright. A beautiful day once again. Fantastic views all around including the Scafells. Early start from Wrynose. Managed parking from the start of the path. Found the climb up & down from Wet Stone Edge steep but manageable. Also bagged Great Carrs & that completed our range of Coniston Fells. [with] Charlie [weather] Sun 🌞
Tim Winn summited on September 30th, 2023 [with] Barry, Paul and Andy [weather] Wet Day
Neil Heywood conquered it on September 6th, 2014 [from/via/route] Torver [with] Logan Heywood
Christine Shepherd scaled on July 31st, 2007 [from/via/route] I walked along the Walna Scar Road to climb Brown Pike before taking in five of the Coniston Fells [with] On my own [weather] A gloriously clear, sunny day - This was a wonderful day's walking. I didn't want it to end! Also climbed with Rebecca using walk c222 on 31.3.08 Climbed this peak again on 1.10.11 Did the Coniston Seven again on 4.8.23 in wonderful walking weather.
Martin Woods walked up on March 4th, 2023 [from/via/route] Old man of Coniston to Swirl How, Black Sails & Wetherlam c306 [with] N/A [weather] Overcast, 7 degerees in the valley cold on the tops - Be careful of navigation towards Swirl How easy to forget where you are up to
James Hughes climbed it on February 27th, 2023 [from/via/route] Coniston, Old Man Coniston, Swirl How, Prison Band, Black Sails Wetherlam [with] Solo [weather] Cold, cloudy with sleet showers, icy on paths - Cold, cloudy, sleet & drizzle. Completed within 5 hours. Pint of Bluebird at Black Bull Inn.
Emma Simmonds bagged it on August 13th, 2019 [from/via/route] Goat tarn to top the onto Swirl How's & down past the copper mines [with] Kevin, Sam, Dad, Keith, Margaret and Joe [weather] Dry, low cloud at the top, cool.
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More Photographs & Pictures of views from, on or of Swirl How
The Old Man of Coniston (left) and Swirl How (right) from Wetherlam summit
Wetherlam, Swirl How and Little Carrs under a deep blanket of snow from
Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)
The S for Sugar Aircraft Crash Memorial between Swirl How, Great Carrs and Grey Friar
Coniston Water from the summit of Brock Barrow (Top o' Selside) with Beacon (Blawith Fells) prominent (centre) and the Coniston Fells: White Maiden, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Wetherlam in the background (right)
Crinkle Crags (centre left) with Bow Fell (Bowfell) beyond from near Prison Band below Swirl How
The Scafell Massif featuring Scafell Pike (centre) and Sca Fell (centre left) from Swirl Band between Swirl How and Levers Hawse
High Light Haw (Top o' Selside) summit cairn with the Coniston Fells: White Maiden, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Wetherlam in the background
Red Tarn (Langdale) with Great Carrs and Swirl How in the distance from Pike of Blisco (Pike o' Blisco)
Low Light Haw (Top o' Selside) summit cairn with the Coniston Fells: White Maiden, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Wetherlam in the background
Top o' Selside summit cairn with the Coniston Fells: White Maiden, Walna Scar, Dow Crag, The Old Man of Coniston, Brim Fell, Swirl How and Wetherlam as a backdrop
The Langdale Pikes with Wetherlam and Swirl How in the distance from Sergeant Man summit
. . . see just 20 walk photographs & pictures of views from, on or of Swirl How
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